Lack of funding for education is a major issue in Tanzania. Schools do not have the materials they need to give students the best possible education. While many students in the US enjoy the luxury of having a book to keep at home in addition to a class set available to read in the classroom, many schools in Tanzania may have only one outdated copy for the entire school. This one copy usually stays in the possession of the teacher in order to make lesson plans, and the students most likely never even see it.

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This primary school library project is an initiative to make improvements to the pre-existing school library. The goal is to make it more learner-focused, with more hands on activities that will enhance English reading and speaking skills.

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At our Primary School, this is the case. The teachers and the students simply do not have the books or materials they need. The teachers and community members have identified improvement of education as a top priority, and agree that opening a school library would be the first step toward achieving this goal.

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The library functions as it is but it could be improved with better quality equipment and furniture to encourage more use by students and teachers alike. Once these improvements are made, the hopes by the school and others that the library’s use will be extended to the community. This is crucial because all subjects at the primary school are taught in English and tests are written in English. The major challenge comes from the fact that most children in the area and surrounding areas know very little English. Even many of the caretakers speak little to no English so they are incapable of assisting their children with homework or studies. This project has the potential to get kids more excited about reading with the addition of new books and teaching tools and in turn increase overall knowledge in various subjects.

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This project will provide new textbooks in every subject for every grade 1-7 at the primary school, as well as additional resources such as dictionaries, special interest books, stationary and fiction books. The primary school has offered to provide for 73% of the project including the building where the library will be located, and all of the furniture and shelves. The school has also decided to share the library with the entire community, which will provide resources and improve literacy throughout the village. The library will give the students the research skills they will need to succeed as well as serve as an encouragement for a life-long love of learning.

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Education is a crucial factor to the prevention of HIV because those students who fail out or drop out of school, sometimes for something as implausible as a language barrier in their native country are more likely to engage in risky behaviors such as depending on others for money in exchange for sex, often unprotected. This project will hopefully, with the support of parents and teachers, get kids more excited about learning and enhance the likelihood that they will further their education beyond just the basic level because they have confidence in their own ability to succeed.

This primary school library project is an initiative to make improvements to the pre-existing school library. The goal is to make it more learner-focused, with more hands on activities that will enhance English reading and speaking skills.

The library functions as it is but it could be improved with better quality equipment and furniture to encourage more use by students and teachers alike. Once these improvements are made, the hopes by the school and others that the library’s use will be extended to the community. This is crucial because all subjects at the primary school are taught in English and tests are written in English. The major challenge comes from the fact that most children in the area and surrounding areas know very little English. Even many of the caretakers speak little to no English so they are incapable of assisting their children with homework or studies. This project has the potential to get kids more excited about reading with the addition of new books and teaching tools and in turn increase overall knowledge in various subjects.

Education is a crucial factor to the prevention of HIV because those students who fail out or drop out of school, sometimes for something as implausible as a language barrier in their native country are more likely to engage in risky behaviors such as depending on others for money in exchange for sex, often unprotected. This project will hopefully, with the support of parents and teachers, get kids more excited about learning and enhance the likelihood that they will further their education beyond just the basic level because they have confidence in their own ability to succeed.